South Africa Edge India in Women’s T20 World Cup Thriller

An unbeaten 81 from Marizanne Kapp propelled South Africa to a dramatic six-wicket victory over India at Old Trafford, keeping the Proteas’ semifinal hopes alive in the 2026 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup.

An extraordinary undefeated 81 from Marizanne Kapp propelled South Africa to a thrilling six-wicket victory over India, ensuring the Proteas sustain their high-stakes pursuit of a semifinal placement during the ongoing Women’s T20 World Cup campaign.

Kapp, who previously claimed 2-27 during Sunday’s monumental Old Trafford showdown, smashed seven boundaries and four maximums. Her explosive performance allowed South Africa to chase down the 159 target with only five deliveries remaining, punishing India for failing to capitalize on a strong batting start.

South Africa crawled to a mere 25 runs during the opening powerplay. However, Kapp joined forces with Tazmin Brits after the loss of two early wickets, completely altering the momentum with an aggressive 97-run partnership constructed from just 63 balls.

India paid heavily for dropping Kapp three times during her innings. The veteran all-rounder punished the opposition by striking two massive sixes in the penultimate over delivered by Deepti Sharma, before Chloe Tryon secured victory by edging a boundary off Nandani Sharma.

“It was a tough game, playing India is always tough,” noted the 36-year-old Kapp after the match.

“And I am very proud of the way the team came back. I was just praying to be honest… I struggled in the first few balls. The partnership with Taz set us up beautifully.”

India captain Harmanpreet Kaur, celebrating a historic milestone by appearing in her 200th T20 international fixture, expressed deep disappointment regarding her squad’s defensive lapses on the field.

“We got a couple of chances in between but couldn’t take those chances,” Kaur stated. “We have to take opportunities at this level.”

Following the result, South Africa pulled level with India on 4 points in the standings, trailing the undefeated tournament pacesetters Australia, who currently lead the group with 6 points.

This outcome intensifies India’s upcoming group stage fixture against Australia at Lord’s on June 28, a match critical for deciding qualification since only the top two teams from each pool advance to the semifinals.

Earlier in the day, the West Indies extended their flawless tournament record to three consecutive victories, though they endured a tense chase to overhaul a modest target of 99 runs against Sri Lanka.

The Caribbean side slumped to 70-5 before the experienced Stafanie Taylor struck an unbeaten 27 to anchor the Group B win, a result that simultaneously confirmed the elimination of winless Ireland.

West Indies skipper Hayley Matthews delivered an outstanding spell of 3-15 to dismantle the Sri Lankan batting lineup for a total of just 98 runs.

Future Outlook

India’s qualification path for the semifinals at The Oval remains viable despite this initial setback. The team currently holds a healthy net run rate of +2.511, bolstered by dominant early victories over Pakistan by 64 runs and the Netherlands by 95 runs. India will face Bangladesh on June 25 at Old Trafford before their high-stakes encounter against reigning champions Australia on June 28 at Lord’s. Securing wins in both fixtures will guarantee India a spot in the final four.

FAQs

Who won the India vs South Africa Women’s T20 World Cup match?

South Africa won the match by six wickets, chasing down a target of 159 with five balls to spare.

What was Marizanne Kapp’s score in the match?

Marizanne Kapp scored an unbeaten 81 runs off 45 balls and also took 2-27 with the ball.

What milestone did Harmanpreet Kaur reach during this match?

India captain Harmanpreet Kaur appeared in her record 200th T20 international match.

Where will the semifinals of the Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 take place?

The semifinals of the tournament are scheduled to be played at The Oval.